Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are one win away apiece from colliding in a second consecutive Grand Slam final. Standing in their respective ways on Saturday at the U.S. Open, however, are Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (10) Kei Nishikori
Djokovic and Nishikori will be squaring off for just the third time in their careers when they clash in the semifinals of the U.S. Open on Super Saturday. The head-to-head series stands at 1-1, with Djokovic having cruised 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 at the 2010 French Open before Nishikori prevailed 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-0 on the indoor hard courts of Basel in 2011. They were supposed to face each other earlier this season in Miami, but Nishikori withdrew from the scheduled semifinal with a groin injury.
The Japanese star has been injury-plagued throughout his career, but from a physical standpoint he is enjoying the fortnight of his life so far in New York. After rolling over Wayne Odesnik, Pablo Andujar, and Leonardo Mayer, Nishikori pulled out consecutive five-set victories over Milos Raonic and Stan Wawrinka. The world No. 9 is now an awesome 39-9 for his 2014 campaign. Djokovic has improved to 44-6 following defeats of Diego Schwartzman, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Sam Querrey, Philipp Kohlschreiber, and Andy Murray. The top-ranked Serb is bouncing back nicely from early losses in Toronto and Cincinnati. With recharged batteries and a heightened motivation level, Djokovic surrendered just a single set to Murray on his way to the semis. The No. 1 seed should have a clear edge over a fatigued opponent who is contesting the first major semifinal of his career.
Pick: Djokovic in 3 with no tiebreakers
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(14) Marin Cilic vs. (2) Roger Federer
Federer and Cilic will be doing battle for the sixth time in their careers and for the second time this summer when they meet again on Saturday. All five previous encounters have gone Federer’s way, including a competitive 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-4 affair last month in Toronto. The Swiss is 4-0 lifetime against Cilic on hard courts and 11-2 in total sets (9-2 in hard-court sets). Cilic, though, is playing the most consistent tennis of his career right now and he is no stranger to the latter stages of Grand Slams. The 16th-ranked Croat–who is 45-16 for the year–reached the U.S. Open quarters in 2009 and 2012, the Australian Open semis in 2010, and the Wimbledon quarters this summer (extended Djokovic to five sets). So far this fortnight Cilic has taken out Marcos Baghdatis, Illya Marchenko, Kevin Anderson, Gilles Simon, and Tomas Berdych.
These two semifinalists had much different days at the office on Thursday. After Cilic made routine straight-set work of Cilic, Federer recovered from a two-set deficit and saved two match points in a 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 victory over Gael Monfils. That was preceded by scalps of Marinko Matosevic, Sam Groth, Marcel Granollers, and Roberto Bautista Agut. The 33-year-old Swiss is 54-9 for the season, which includes a recent runner-up showing in Toronto and a title in Cincinnati. Federer withstood Cilic’s best effort at the Rogers Cup and there is no reason to think he will not do the same at an event he has won five times. The No. 2 seed has a ton of momentum in the wake of his comeback against Monfils; it’s not going away anytime soon.
Pick: Federer in 4
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Cilic/Nishikori final would be a dream come true, but it’s about a 0.0% chance of that happening
^^For that to happen the world would have to stop spinning.
I can envisage Cilic giving Federer a hard time but having managed to trump Monfils at the 11th hour Federer will be brimming with confidence although it might take another five-setter.
Federer in 5
Nishikori’s dream run will surely end here but I think it will be more competitive than Ricky is suggesting and with at least one tie-breaker.
Djokovic in 4
Reading through the blogs about what happened to Peng, heatstroke, leaves me with more antipathy towards Fed. He has benefitted the most from tennis officials gaming the schedules to favour him and like all corrupt people, he accepted it. This US open, he has been meticulously spared playing in the midday sun. I don’t care what anybody says about this being the call of the TV producers. The FACTS are there for all to see, UNFAIR SCHEDULING, CORRUPTION.
So Caroline has been fried and basted, she is now ready to face the home favourite who did not have to suffer the inconvenience of wiping sweat off her perfectly manicured eyebrows.
Disgusting.
To add to your comment @jpacnw, Caroline was the epitome of professionalism. To be honest, I never cared for Caroline before but of late, I have been awed by her maturity and apparently genuine niceness.
Sorry, but this is ridiculous. The fact Federer played night matches was largely a product of Djokovic, Murray, and Wawrinka being on the other side of the draw. Who were they supposed to put to draw a good night session? Ferrer? Berdych? While quality players, they’re not what tournament organizers want headlining a session priced almost as much as day session but for only two matches (and only one being a men’s match).
If Rafa had been in the draw, the stars would have been more evenly split, and then you’d have to find other conspiracy to concoct. The one time you wouldn’t expect Fed to play a night match (Labor Day weekend, when CBS wants stars in the day session), rain pushed his match into a night session. Did he plan that, too? Moreover, do you really think Fed would want to play 5 matches at night, knowing the semis and final are mid to late afternoon matches, thus he wouldn’t get a single match in the actual conditions the truly important matches are played in before actually playing them? Do you also think he has the power to see the schedule of play and simply change it because of some moral outrage that he gets another night session? All this stuff is just absolutely bonkers.
God, the conspiracies and vitriol on this website makes me cry for humanity. I am a huge Federer fan, but I love watching all the top tennis players because that’s what I like more — GOOD TENNIS. I actually even consider Nadal my second favorite because he’s SO GOOD and a treat to watch. It seems an undefendable stance on any tennis forum, but you really can like one player while still liking the others and not creating crazy theories about how they’re awful people. For once, stop trying to create a conspiracy about this draw or that order or play or whatever out of nothing. It makes you only look ignorant and less a fan of tennis than of the individual players.
^^I might add that Caroline was the anti-Stan during Peng’s distress. Caroline never complained, never demanded to know what was wrong, showed genuine concern for Peng’s plight and in general just displayed completely professional behavior
Yeah, Caroline is not from Switzerland.
I do think that Kei can take a set off Novak. He had two days to try and recuperate for the semifinal. I don’t know if he is finally going to hit a wall in this match or not. But he has shown such resilience.
I do not see Novak winning in straight sets. I think he will get at least one set off him.
As for Cilic, he certainly has the game to make match of it in the semifinals. When I heard him talking about how Goran Ivanesivec got him to change his service motion to make it harder to read, I realized that he’s been working to get better. He served brilliantly against Berdy. However, Fed is not Berdy. He will feel great about his comeback against Monfils.. But I believe that Cilic will come out with nothing to lose, no pressure. If he just plays his game, then he can definitely make this a competitive match.
I see Fed winning in four or five sets.
I did not know there were 2 days of rest for nishi…i forgot the two semis will be played on saturday…
Now i think Nishi will win at least one set. Depending on how hard he can compete given his physical strength, this will be a tough match.
I think fed will be in a tough battle. At least a tough four setter but even a 5 set tussle would not surprise me at all.Cilic played him really close in Toronto and he can do it here again. His service games are pretty strong and he takes his chances on the return. It will be good. Fed will be thinking of this as a golden opportunity. He knows that with no rafa to handle, he has a good shot at winning no. 18
It’s going to be scorching hot tomorrow. Over 90 degrees plus over 60 percent humidity. There’s also a good possibility of thundershowers later in the afternoon which could interrupt the Fed/Cilic match.
I think we’ll see solid baseline rallies between Kei and Novak, but Novak’s consistency is superior. Kei does so many things well, but Novak just does them better, such as ROS, taking the ball early, backhand DTL, etc. Kei could very well take a set, but I don’t see him winning.
I have no idea what to expect from Cilic and Fed. Roger didn’t play that well against Gael the 1st 2 sets of their match. He was having trouble adjusting to the wind and his serve was off. One of the tactics that proved effective for Roger was coming to the net a zillion times. Gael’s passing shots usually weren’t effective. Cilic might be able to exploit all of those net approaches. Their match last month in Toronto was very close. I think it’ll be more important for Cilic to take an early lead. Roger was flustered the other night when Gael took the 1st 2 sets. He was visibly agitated and if Cilic can cause that kind of agitation again combined with the brutally unpleasant conditions they’ll be playing in and if he maintains his own game of big serves without too many unforced errors, he might have a chance.
A fresh Kei may have given Novak something to think about, not this tired overcooked Kei.
Cilic’s game has definitely improved, especially his serve. Unfortunately, like all of them except Rafa, he is intimidated by Fed and will lose the mental battle.
A Slam is always the ultimate goal and prize but both Federer and Djokovic have been prone to wanting it too badly and falling short at the critical moment. Expect to see one or other, or both, showing signs of stress during the SFs but their experience on the big stage will carry the day.
Here’s hoping the two underdogs will at least put up a fight and make a match of it.
I wonder if Rafa will be able to bring himself to watch.
^^
I’m sure Rafa will watch, why not? He said he watched the Wimby final! Could be he watches at one of his friend’s houses as he has said he does not have Eurosport at home! It’s Fed who has said, in keeping with his arrogance, he does not watch other players’ matches. Fed is a liar because he admitted to watching the Rafa/Wawa Aussie final. What he meant to say is he cannot bear to watch either Novak or Rafa win.
No Fed also admitted he watch quiet a part of the Rafa Novak French final
I think fed in 5 and I wanna choose Nishi in 5 over djokovic.. Nishi is well rested and he has nothing to loose and he showed his character in 2 top 10 wins both in 5 setters and dont forget their h2h stands 1-1 so nishi has the chance..
I have a bad feeling that the first match will go long then the thunderstorms will come to save Fed like last Sunday when he ended up playing 3.5 sets at night again. I have picked Nole to win but a Nishi Slam win would be the best for tennis. I’m conflicted because if Kei goes up against the Fedal machine in the final he may come up short. Nole will beat Fed in the final however. I’m sure of that. If only I had more faith in Cilic I could cheer fully for Kei.
Fed in 3.
Upset special: Nole T-Kei-O’d in 5.
Final: Fed over Kei in 4.
Q. As I said, Roger, his legacy is unrivaled. It seemed to me like the crowd out there was equally for you. I don’t know, did you feel that way?
GAEL MONFILS: Not really. I think they have been cheering more for Roger. Then, you know, it’s — it was for sure. And then suddenly, you know, I feel it more that, because through the second set and then he start to say some come ons and he start to put pressure on me a little bit more. Then the come forward more and more, and I think he needed the crowd and the crowd stuck with him.
Preach it Gael.
Even Fed agreed.
OK, hawkeye we know you are a Fedfanatic, no need to go on an on about him. It’s actually good for 10Grand to have some opposition to Rafans.
If you are what defines a true Rafan nadline, then I’m ok with you considering me a fedfan.
#Perspective
Only the federazzi and their ilk could pretend that the crowd was fair and balanced when they cheered wildly when LaMonf double faulted.
I guess that makes you ilk nadline. Tenngrand needs more ilk like you.
#EmptySeats
I wish I could watch the match without the commies, if only there was a way to just turn them off and still hear everything else.
hawkeye, did you know that Fed is not a fan of Hawk Eye? You might have to change you moniker.
Let’s make a deal then nadline.
I will change my moniker to RogerIsTheBest if you change your moniker to ImBetterThanEveryoneElse since it is so obvious that’s how we both feel.
Deal?
@hawkeye,
You are cracking me up with this! But you don’t have to defend yourself. I learned that the hard way. You know who you are. That’s all that matters. If someone else says you are a Fed fan and not a Rafa fan, that doesn’t make it so.
(shhh, just between you and me NNY, I’m having fun putting nadline in his place.)
hawkeye63@September 6, 2014 at 4:52 pm,
Yeah, NNY has been a great help to you in putting (some) Rafa fans in the FEDERAZZI!
An excerpt:
¤¤ hawkeye63 says:
August 27, 2014 at 10:05 pm
…You [nadline10] have nothing of substance to back your unsubstantiated claims just like augusta08 the federazzi…¤¤ (See a link to the excerpt in Reply)
http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/laughing/rolling-on-the-floor-laughing-smiley-emoticon.gif
Oh look, it’s @NoImBetterThanEveryoneElse.
You two are no tennis fans. Just a couple of Facebook fanboys.
Keep counting those likes.
hawkeye63@September 6, 2014 at 4:52 pm,
The link to the excerpt:
https://tenngrand.com/2014/08/23/2014-u-s-open-picks/comment-page-1/#comment-109280
Thanks to the link to the baseless accusation @NoImBetterThanTheRest. It is all you know.
You confuse baseless claims with fact just like the federazzi.
#PotMeetKettle
hawkeye63@September 6, 2014 at 6:21 pm
—-You two [nadline 10 and augusta08] are no tennis fans. Just a couple of Facebook fanboys—-
I am a Rafa fan(atic)!
http://www.emoticonland.net/smileys/sports/spoort014.gif
Yes a fanatic of his Facebook page. But you are no tennis fan IMO.
#Vamos Kei
#Vamos Cilic
@augusta,
Your comment @ 6:09 pm shows that you can dish it out, but can’t take it. Your silly laughing emoticons just makes it even more pathetic. You and nadline started this battle, so don’t be surprised when those who are being attacked, stand up and fight back.
nativenewyorker7@September 7, 2014 at 2:32 pm
—You and nadline started this battle—
WHAT battle???
I can’t believe what’s happening in this first set. I think Monfils should be required to watch both of Kei’s previous matches to see what it means to compete and believe and not give up.
Kei actually serving for the first set. This is something else.
I’ll take Joker in 3 and Fed in 3.
^^care to re-visit your scoreline, @scootd?
Djoko will have to do it in 4 at least………
scootd, you’ve already lost on one prediction.
Came in and switched on the Djokovic/Nishi semi, saw the scoreline and fell off my chair…….literally.
Kei serving for the set???
Wow! Kei wins the first set!
Way to go Kei!